Women’s participation in the Mexican labor market reached 46.3% in 2024 , according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) ; however, there are some sectors that are below average, such as the maintenance and support sector for heavy vehicles.

While women are estimated to have a participation of close to 21% of total jobs in the automotive industry , in the heavy vehicle maintenance and technical support segment it is only 11.5 percent.

In response to this reality, the Technicians and Engineers of the Future program was conceived as part of Scania’s Women Driving Change project , where, according to Alejandro Mondragón, president and CEO of the brand in Mexico, it is the result of the passion for this type of initiative, the support of the entire board , and being aligned with the personal values ​​of the members of the corporation.

Mondragón acknowledged that, as with any corporation, profitability is pursued, but this type of initiative changes paradigms, addresses the reality of the industry that requires skilled talent and that this need will become increasingly profound. Therefore, the objective is to raise awareness in the industry and encourage more companies to participate in these types of actions, and by filling these positions, productivity will be achieved.

Ana Laura Islas Tello, People Development & Sustainable Culture Manager of Scania Mexico, described that the initiative is part of their United Nations Global Compact strategies , and is a business strategy for Scania based on having more diversity of thought, and better products and services.

Starting point

The Technicians and Engineers of the Future program graduated the first nine women of this initiative, who are joining Scania’s maintenance and service activities for, in this case, the northern area of ​​the Valley of Mexico.

Ana Laura Islas acknowledged that the Scania Drivers program identified an area of ​​opportunity in terms of women’s representation, in order to begin building relationships with academia to promote the training of more women in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and in disciplines related to the transportation sector.

This effort involves joint work with the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in Mexico, ProSociedad  and  Grupo CEDVA with the project to reach 15 female technicians and 45 female engineers annually for the next three years .

Islas emphasized that the brand’s entire effort is focused on ensuring that the graduates remain committed to working for Scania , and if they do leave the company, an effort will be made for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

Comprehensive vision

Although the Technicians and Engineers of the Future program aims to train specialists for the automotive industry, the curriculum is comprehensive and complements their technical training.

Therefore, in addition to STEM skills, they also receive soft skills training . “This program complements their academic training, with applications such as leadership workshops, resume writing, and interview preparation. We are becoming advisors for their professional careers ,” highlighted Adriana Davy, Marketing and Communications Manager at Scania Mexico.

“Another topic we talk about a lot is sisterhood. It’s normal for classrooms to be all girls, so sometimes they’re not used to being among women, and this type of training also aims to address emotional issues,” Davy added.

Among other topics,  personal finances are addressed , along with advice on managing their resources, because there is an awareness that some of these women may be the economic support of their households.

Although only technicians graduated in this first generation , some are engineering students and the goal is for them to also participate in the other program, which lasts for a year of training instead of three weeks .

For Scania’s executives, the goal is clear: to trigger the participation of more companies and the training of more women with the skills required by the industry, which will also allow them to change their lives and those of their families.

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The  inclusion of women in the trucking industry  is beginning to take shape in  Scania Mexico ‘s strategy , in a sector where the presence of  female operators  remains marginal and progress is gradual. 

The low  participation of women in the industry  is also reflected in official data. At the end of 2025, only 1% of valid federal licenses were held by women, that is, 6,902 female operators compared to more than 717,000 men, according to the  General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) . 

The gap widens in the freight segment, where the sector’s activity is most concentrated. In this area,  female participation reached 5,335 licenses, equivalent to only 0.9% nationwide, a proportion that reveals the significant room that still exists for their incorporation into freight transport. 

In this context,  Scania Mexico  has made progress with its  Scania Women Drivers program , which has already completed seven cohorts  and graduated 72 women . The automaker is preparing to launch the eighth cohort, which will take place in Monterrey, Nuevo León, with the expectation of adding 10 new participants. 

“We already have seven graduating classes, 72 women. So, we are very happy. This year we expect to have three more graduating classes, so that by the end of the year we will have reached 100 female drivers,” emphasized Rodolfo Hernández, Manager of Institutional Relations and Sustainability at Scania Mexico.

The program’s next step also marks a change in its structure. The  eighth generation  will be the first in which they collaborate with the German technical cooperation agency  GIZ , in addition to having sponsors in Monterrey. 

At the same time, the company secured the support of a civil association called Pro Sociedad , which will help systematize the monitoring of graduates. The goal is to obtain more precise information about their progress within the sector, from their working conditions to the challenges they face in their work, through surveys and data collection. 

Until now, support  for the operators  has been provided directly , but the program’s growth has made it necessary to structure this process. Through this monitoring, the company seeks to understand how the graduates’ circumstances have changed and what adjustments are needed to strengthen future generations. 

With  three generations projected for this year , the goal of reaching the 100th operator  not only represents a symbolic objective, but the beginning of a stage where the program begins to consolidate with greater reach, monitoring and measurement capacity in a sector that still has ample room to integrate female talent. 

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The push to incorporate more women into the trucking industry in Mexico has entered a new phase. The Scania Women Drivers program , which began as a training initiative, now seeks to consolidate itself as a movement with sustained impact .

The challenge, however, remains profound. Women’s participation in freight transport operations is still limited in a sector historically dominated by men.

The gap in operations is most evident in the official figures. According to data from the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) , at the end of 2025, only 1% of valid federal licenses belonged to women , with just 6,902 female operators compared to more than 717,000 men.

In the cargo segment, where the greatest activity is concentrated, female participation reaches 5,335 licenses, which is equivalent to just 0.9% at the national level , demonstrating the wide margin that exists for their incorporation into the sector.

This limited participation is compounded by an additional challenge. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the sector faced a shortage of around 99,000 operators by 2025, a scarcity that is beginning to put pressure on companies’ operations.

In this context, Scania Mexico announced the launch of a new cycle of its Scania Women Drivers program , scheduled to begin in 2026, with the addition of three new cohorts. This will bring the total number of trained cohorts to 10 , solidifying its position as one of the most consistent initiatives for increasing female participation in freight transport.

This is significant progress. For years, the presence of women in the trucking industry has been limited, both in operations and in technical areas. In response to this situation, the program has evolved into a more structured model, with an emphasis on professional development and employability .

This new phase will be developed in collaboration with GIZ Mexico and the develoPPP program, strengthening training standards. The approach includes not only technical training , but also the development of professional and soft skills, as well as job placement programs that facilitate entry into the formal sector.

The goal is to move beyond the perception that operating a truck is a restricted domain. Under the “Drive Like a Woman” concept , the initiative seeks to redefine this idea and position it as a standard of leadership, precision, and resilience within the industry.

The results are beginning to show. To date, the program has trained seven generations, with more than 70 graduates and a job placement rate of nearly 80% , which points toward greater economic independence and permanence in the sector.

Beyond the numbers, the change lies in the approach. Scania Women Drivers is no longer an isolated effort but a continuous strategy aimed at strengthening communities, opening opportunities, and contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable transport system.

Scania Mexico announced that it will soon release more details about this new phase, which aims to further expand the program’s reach in the coming years.

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Scania Mexico celebrated the graduation of the seventh generation of Scania Female Drivers, a program that since 2022 has promoted the training of women truck operators in response to the shortage of operators in the country.

“With Scania Women Drivers, we confirm that freight transport can be more competitive precisely because it is more inclusive. We don’t just train operators; we help more women integrate into an industry that is key to the economy, ensuring that our customers’ fleets have qualified talent,” said Alejandro Mondragón, president and CEO of Scania Mexico, at a ceremony held in the capital of San Luis Potosí.

For the seventh graduating class, Scania collaborated with Grupo PASA , Autotransportes Pilot and the Institute for Job Training (ICAT) of San Luis Potosí , with the goal of ensuring that the training translates into employment and more units in operation.

Since its inception, the program has trained more than 72 women operators; the first six cohorts trained 62 participants , and eight out of ten are now employed by transportation companies. Most found jobs within a month of completing their training.

“Each graduate makes a real difference to the operation of our customers’ fleets: greater vehicle availability, increased road safety, and greater professionalization of truck driving. Their effort translates into increased productivity for the industry,” stated Jorge Navarro, Director of Trucks and Power Solutions at Scania Mexico.

Delia López Rodríguez, representative of the seventh generation, thanked Scania and the allied companies for providing training opportunities and for the support received during the process.

The graduates were: Jennifer Ximena Suvea Bustamante, Perla del Carmen Serna Trejo, Ángela Agustina Ramírez Vaquera, Alma Daniela Ramírez Becerra, Andrea Natalia Pérez Gómez, María de Jesús Pacheco Gallegos, Norma Geraldine Moreno Santanta, Delia López Rodríguez, Juana Griselda Hernández Escareño and Claudia Gutiérrez Loredo.

Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , highlighted that the graduates inspire other women, support their families and pave the way for new generations, strengthening the sector with their participation .

For her part, Mariana García, Technical Training Manager of Grupo PASA, highlighted that the graduates demonstrated commitment and that their effort becomes a tangible contribution to the industry .

Estefanía García, Human Resources Manager at Autotransportes Pilot, stated that there is a support network for women who decide to join the transportation sector, and that their participation breaks paradigms in a historically male-dominated industry .

Scania Drivers offers a 196-hour theoretical and practical curriculum in safe driving, basic mechanics and maintenance , in coordination with the Industrial Work Training Centers (Cecati) and the ICAT, in addition to instruction in the maneuvering yard by Scania master drivers.

Scania Drivers was born in Argentina in 2019 and arrived in Mexico in 2022, with the goal of increasing female participation in the transport labor market and addressing the shortage of operators that affects national logistics.

Data from the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) indicate that Mexico faces a shortage of tens of thousands of operators, with estimated economic losses of 1.5 billion pesos (mdp) annually due to idled units and higher operating costs.

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The hall filled with applause as 10 women took the stage to receive their diplomas . Behind each recognition lay six weeks of intense training, late nights of studying, hours of practice in the playground, but above all, the certainty of paving the way in an industry that years ago was reserved for men, such as the transportation sector.

The sixth generation of Scania Drivers represented much more than a group of graduates: they are pioneers who decided to challenge prejudices and take the wheel of a tractor-trailer as a life project.

“Getting here hasn’t been easy, but today we’ve grown as people, as colleagues, and as future driving professionals,” shared an excited Selene Álvarez Parra , speaking on behalf of her colleagues.

The graduation of the sixth generation marked the completion of a training cycle and the construction of a more inclusive and sustainable future for transportation in the country, highlighted Alejandro Mondragón, president and CEO of Scania Mexico .

Mondragón emphasized that this program breaks paradigms and demonstrates that when talent meets opportunity, there are no limits to transforming the industry.

Rodolfo Hernández, Manager of Institutional Relations and Sustainability at Scania Mexico and the program’s lead, noted that they are more than just operators: “They are driving change in the industry, social change, and a change in our lives.”

She highlighted that since the program’s inception, more than 50 female operators have already been trained and are now working in trucking companies.

On behalf of Grupo Bimbo , a partner and sponsor, Fernando Zenteno, national transportation manager, highlighted the importance of opening spaces for women.

“You are already operators. You are the spearhead that is breaking paradigms in the trucking industry,” he emphasized.

José Lino Ortiz, Bimbo’s national fleet manager, acknowledged the scope of Scania’s program and noted that behind the wheel are not just products, but entire lives waiting at home.

She emphasized that safety must be the guiding principle of every trip and that new operators now have the responsibility to take care of themselves and others on the road.

“You’re going to be operating a multi-ton truck. Take good care of yourselves and keep learning. These six weeks were just the beginning of everything you have left to learn in the world of transportation,” he emphasized.

What if I am a tractor-trailer operator?

The seemingly distant question began to take shape the day Diana Paredes Pérez saw an ad on social media. With no family history in trucking, she signed up out of curiosity and ended up discovering her calling: “Now I’m very happy; it’s my thing,” she said with a shy smile, still incredulous that she had achieved what she never imagined.

This was also the case for Virginia Demetrio , who dreamed of driving a tractor-trailer truck since she was a child. As the daughter and wife of operators, she knew that sooner or later she would follow that path.

For her, this graduation isn’t just a degree, but the confirmation of a lifetime of roadwork: “My kids say their mom is awesome,” she proudly shared.

In other homes, surprise was the driving force. Viridiana Alonso , 40, recalled her family’s reaction when they received the first photos of the practice tractors: “Are you really going to drive that?” they asked incredulously. Today, their answer is written on a diploma and in a future that is just beginning.

Beyond training

For six weeks, the operators shared technical learnings, safety values, and bonds of friendship.

“We don’t just see passing tests, we see friendships born behind the wheel,” Selene Álvarez summarized.

The challenge facing the sector is no small one, explained Jorge Navarro, director of Truck and Bus Solutions at Scania, who recalled that according to figures from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the National Chamber of Cargo Transport (Canacar) , in 2024 Mexico faced more than 99,000 operator vacancies .

The ceremony concluded with a hopeful message: this is not the end of a course, but the beginning of a cultural change in Mexican trucking.

At the event, 10 women received their diplomas, but thousands more will see what’s possible. In each testimony, the steering wheel also belongs to them, and with it, they operate not just a truck, but the future of an industry.

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El cargo Breaking paradigms! The sixth generation of Scania drivers takes the wheel apareció primero en T21.

The Canada-Mexico Chamber of Commerce ‘s (CanCham) Women in Business and Inclusion Committee recognized the “Scania Drivers” program for promoting female inclusion in the trucking sector.

El cargo CanCham includes “Scania Female Drivers” in the first edition of the Compendium of Good Practices in Inclusion and Diversity apareció primero en T21.

Over the years, we have graduated to the first generation of the 100% capacity program dedicated to training women who can operate five-wheel tractors. Scania conductors are a concept that breaks paradigms in the autotransport of cargo sector , and is a space thought of only to offer a source of work, if not a motor that changes the life of women and is still the source of inspiration for other people that you can operate a vehicle weighed.

With its fifth generation, the project has a capacity of 52 women in Tijuana, Lagunera County, Manzanillo, Tula and Toluca; And they had the opportunity to co-locate in number of autotransport companies that they were able to continue their preparation and join their labor plant.

The compromise of Scania was decisive because Scania’s conductors were an entity, but also to the involucramiento of the Association of Women’s Operators of Cargo Vehicles (AMO) and its co-founder and president, Paola Moncada, was the basis of the consolidation of the program what are the cuenta with great aliases, companies of self-transport and educational institutions .

“Scania drivers launched in October of 2022, with a very good idea and better intentions, but only by Scania, the AMO and the National Autotransport Commission of Cargo (Canacar) that was part of the project. We are part of a capacity program designed 100% for women with a complete range concept. Once the capacity has been completed, as the project has been upgraded to the compromise of not being able to graduate in business so that they have a job opportunity,” commented Paola Moncada.

Therefore, the first operators end up on a journey for two women who can take a job opportunity to conclude the training program. It is important to note that the length of the five generations has made it possible to see the work of the operators , and in the future it is busca that Conductors Scania is a sensitive project with women and that it can feel safe, protected and replenished in its tray.

“The first generation you have from Scania and AMO, we don’t have any sponsors because the project was new, without embargo, you have very good results and operators who work in companies that have a reputation. From the second generation we see the beginnings of other businesses”, detailed by T21 Rodolfo Casanova, manager of Institutional Relations and Sustainability of Scania México.

The leader of Conductors Scania commented that, for the third edition, which was in Manzanillo, the Canacar delegation contributed greatly to a company that operated in the port acogió el proyecto, made available to the students on their patio of hands.

The next route takes place in Tula, and also the autotransport companies are waiting for the courses to be completed. “In the last generation we have the participation of a great patrolman who facilitated the instructors, the patio of maneuvers, a simulator, the foodstuffs, an aula and fue el enlace with the Escuela Nacional de Capacitación Profesional del Transporte (ENCAPT) de Toluca”, detailed Casanova.

The directive explained that more than all the graduates and licenses obtained, one of the main results is that it is the fact that the transport companies are involved in validating the contract of women as operators .

“ There is no idea out of the box , you have to note that companies like Autotransportes Pilot and Transcooler have designed our onboarding programs for women. “That the companies of Barcel’s family are this time of year, and the route is easier,” explained Casanova.

The driver of Scania’s conductors will start the six-year generation in San Luis Potosí in 2025 , and the next step for the project will be a major number of licenses, but it will also be a major awareness of the company’s teams for their value. contract women operadoras.

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